Top roll unit for fiber attenuating apparatus



TOP ROLL UNIT FOR FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1955 Sept. 30, 1958 E. w. STARNES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EARL W STflR/VES- p 0, 1958 E. w. STARNES 2,853,743

TOP ROLL UNIT FOR FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ffl/i-Z WSTfl/PAQFS vQCE A7 ORA fr Sept. -30, 1958 E. w. STARNES ,74

TOP ROLL UNIT FOR FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 7 421 w. STAR/YES BY z 6 I 52,853543 1 jorjnoL L UNIT FIBERAT ENUATING I APPARATUS v wStarnes; gAlexander Gity, "Ala.',.:.assignor 'to The This invent-ioni relates .toiatopi rolliunittor: flbe'riattenueat n t pnaratus ;sueh Pas ispinuing frames; roving frames United St s m o 1? Eatented Sept. 30, 1958 2 moving ,epart 1sildjflC6Ilt a: stationary part. Also friction 61id2811$f665 oilswhave created: problems "in the cleaning operation, Front line top-rollshave heretofore been held inzhorizontal: alignment by: nebs at the ends thereof which x'itrin, 90 slotswin cap-bars. This construction 'has 'bee'n eemployedlzdue to; thefactzthatzfront line toprolls are not self -aligning, but must be rigidly held: against horizontal :movement. Also, =:difficulties have 'been encountered "in vsuppc'ortiirgitheitopapron nose 'ba'r whereby it maintains zspaced parallelxreltionship to the 1c 'wer.=apron 'no se bar.

Briefly, my improved apparatustcomprises an alignment :bracltet 'secure'd rigidly to ithe :middleline" top roll inter- .niediate the roll cylinders thei'eof and extending -forwardly ipthereo'f. .A;iransverse-tsloti-isiprovided adjacent the for- @115 ntll l k iandlhas for an iobjectthe provisioniofraan alignment ibracket cementing 1a. :nebless :front i'line ftop r oll 510 a-middle: 1ine :tQp roll :whereby. alignment ofthe middle; linectnp .zroll provides alignment vtor' both :middle :andzfrontdine'top;rolls.

.rnent braeketrof the character'designated whichzisadap'ted to supportaEtdpmpron no'sebar entirely independently of the middle line top ro1l,f:whereby:therezis -noaclosercontactrof the:nos'e bar :OI ."itsapron guidesuwith the :middle Anotherrobiect-ntsm inventioniszto provide :anialign- .lin itqprrollgithus eliminating -complicated. cradles here-- itQ Qre employed on: the middle rlinez-roll :.whichThave we 1 ;eh0king.and made;thesassemblyvery diflicult to pick r.nidtclean;. i t

;A more'zspecific objecttof-my -invention is to provide -;an alignment br ackettofithe character designated 'havzin'g a downwardly and .rearwardly extending transverse slot adjacent the forwardren'cl thereof 'for 'i-eceiving the tehaft of aifront line gfopz-roll tintermediate th'e roll cylinzdersrthereof,:thcrebyto compensateforlvariatimror irregui l'aritie's :inzthe'diameters of the :roll cylinders, 's'uch =as :occursduring normal wvear of the cy1inders or when the cylinders are sbufied. I l-Ahotherobjectrof imyiinvtention is ;to I provide an alignmenthracketv of the-characten designa'ted which is I adapted -:to :support .a'rhold'er for individual top roll" clearers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a top @011 .unit for fiber attenuating apparatus which can be 'Qchecked for :ali'gnmentgand accuracy, including {the front i1ine;top;roll, prior to installation thereof and which can be installed and removed as a unit or -the front dine-top roll-can be removed and installed independently 0f the iremainderof vthe unit. I I

' further object of my invention is to' provide a trip troll unit of the dual apron type which shallincltide reimoiva'ble spacer members adapted to support the top apron nose bar in spacedparallel relationship to "the lower apron nose bar, where'bythe spacer members can readily Ebe'removed and installed. r 1 v A still further object of my invention is to provide 'a .top roll unit of the character designated which can readilybe installed on conventional frames having lower' lin'e apron installations as Well as on conventional frames ea-1iverted to'the lower line apron type and in-which constant alignment of the rolls is maintained without adjustment and without the use oftric'tion parts requiring lubrication, thus providing apparatus which produces a yarn of a constant and uniform quality. I r II I As is well known ;in the part to which 'invent ion relates, drafting apparatus having'cornplicated cradles asso ciated with the middle line top rollls'afre very difiicult to pickandtclean .due to theclo'se spa 'ng o f-thestationary and moving parts over which 111.6 aprons. must pass. Such'close spacing causes an 'eXt'iess a cmnu adbn of lint dtie to the tact that lint ajc'curriulaes where there a rrolliinterniediat'e the:'rol1:.cylinders thereof whereby the ifront'iihettoproll'sis maintaiued in parallel alignmenfwith ithermiddleflinertop ro ll-and' the bite-of'the upper and tlowertaprons; Where j such aprons i are employed. A top nine nose bar isc'secured rigidly to and supported by "the alignment? bracket a=subs tantial-distance forwardly ofthe :niiddl'eiline top roll 'aroundwhich the top aprons pass. 'tTh -'top'1a'pron "nose bar is' 'held in'spacedparallel relartioni'to the 'lower apron nose bar by means'of'removable --spacersmembers whic'henga'ge the-ends of thenose bar outwa'rdly of "the apron guides. Al'so, supported by the alignment bracketis an upstanding-holder for individual atop: roll t'zlearers I Apparatusembodying features of my invention is illusftrated theaccomp'a'nyingdrawing forming a part of t-liisapplicatiom in which: I I I Fig. 1 is-ap'lan view of "the-top roll unit, the holder 'ffor the top: rollclearersi being cut away and in section for the sake of clarity; I I jEigJZds a-sectional view=taken generally along theline II- II o'f- Fig. 1; I II I Fig. f-3' is an "enlarged sectional View taken generally along the 1in'e IIIIII-of '1;

Fig.'-4 is a=perspective viewo'f the top roll unit removed from the frameand with the aprons, "front line roll and clear-er removed 'for the sake ofclarity; Fig. 5 is'a detail'see'tional view showing the upper and lo'wcr apron nose bars and the removable spacer member "associated therewith; I a I Fig. 6"is"a'{si'de elevational view, drawn to a smaller scaleshowin'gthe-alignment bracketiwith a clearer holder thereon; I

Fig. 7 is "a sectional view showing a modifiedform of top roll unit in which individual removable lower line nose bar-sectionsa're supported by and held in position by the t'op' apron nose bar; and I Fig. '8 is an expIoded view showing the alignment bracket, the upperanddower apron nose bars, the holder tor the top roll clearer and the means for securing the elements together, II I I a v r Referring now to'th'e drawings for a better understandng ofjmyinvention 'I show my improved alignment bracket at 10wliiehispr0vided with a downwardly openiiig slot 11 adjacent the rear end thereof and an upwardly -opening slot 12 adjacent the forward end thereof. The upw'ardly opening slot 12 extends downwardly and inwardlyas shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, for a purpose to be dejscribed more ,in det ail hereinafter. Extending transverselj f the alignment bracket 10 and positioned within the slots '11 and 12 are shafts 13 and 14' of middle and front liiie top rolls 16 and 17, respectively. Mounted on the shaft 1 3 at opposite sidesof'the bracket 10 are roll cylinders 18 having knurled surfaces, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.. rollvcylinders 18 are supported on the shaft 13 by suitable roller b.earings 1 9.' Mounted for rotation on the on opposite sides of the bracket 10 are roll cylin- .such as leather, rubber or synthetic materials.

ders 21. .Suitable roller bearings 22 are interposed be- T tween the roll cylinders 21-and the shaft 14, as shown in Fig. 2. r

'A transverse slot23 is provided inlthe undersurface f the bracket IO'intermediate the sl0t'11' and-IZ-for receiving a top apron nose bar 24. Secured to'the under surface of the bracket by means of a cap screw26-is a longitudinally extending clamp member 27. As shown iv .in Figs. 2 and 3,:the clamp member 27 extends across the downwardlyopening's'lot ll and acrossla portion of. the slot 23,. thereby securing the shaft 13 and the nose bar 24 rigidly to thebracket 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the ends .of the shaft 13 are heldin alignment by slots 28 provided in cap bars '29. I i

Passing over the roll cylinders nose bar 24 are continuous:aprons 31 formed of 'afsuitable material,

Secured to the nose bar 24' by any suitable means such as by welding or riveting, are apron guides. 32 which hold the aprons 31 in alignment in'a mannerv well understood. As shown in Figs lg 2 and 4, the nose bar.24 andthe apron guides 32 .do notfiontactany part of the shaft 13 V or -the roll cylinders. 18 of the middle line top roll. The nose bar 24is centered relative 'to thebracket 10 by providing a depression or opening 33 in the nose .bar for ,receiving aprojection 34,,on,.the uppersurface'. of the clamp member'27. ,The shaft 13. is centered relative to the bracket by providing an annular .groove 35 at the center thereof for receiving the upper surface of the clamp member 27, as shown in Fig.3; a

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper .apron 31 engages a lower apron 36 which passes overalower apron nose w bar 37 and a bottom middle roll 38. The front line top roll 17 engages a lower line front roll 39. The, front line and middle line top rolls are. weighted against the driven lower line roll 39 and the lower apron 36 by saddles 41 and 42 and weight hooks 43.

The top roll unit is held in parallel spaced alignment with the lower line nose bar 37 and the travel of the apron 36 thereover by means of removable spacer members 44. The spacer members 44 are installed at the extreme ends of the top apron nose bar 24, as shown in r Figs. 4 and 5, and are in the form of snap-onjclips which partially surround the ends of the nosebar. Depressions 46 are provided in the nose bar24 adjacent the ends thereof in position to receive inwardly extending projections 47 on the spacer members 44. Formed integrally with the portion of the spacer member 44 which .surrounds the nose bar 24 is a downwardly and then forwardly extending flange 48. 'As shown in Fig.6, the

:lower surface of the flange 48 extends'in a direction substantially parallel to' the upper surface of the lower nose bar 37. Due to the fact that the snap-on spacer mem- I bers 44 may be easily installed andremoved from the nose bar 24, different size spacermembers may be employed for different size yarn and 'may be exchanged without removing the top roll unit or any part thereof from its normal position in the frame.

'Formed integrally withthe bracket 10 is an upstanding holder 49 having upwardly opening slotsv 50 therein for supporting individual top roll clearers Slijwh'ich :turn with the front line toproll 17. While I sho w the holder 49 for the front line top roll clearers as being holders .9 would be widerto accommoidate the same. s 7 I 7 7 1 To compensate for irregularities in the diameters of V of the remainder of the assembly.

a 2,853,743 ff" if f" 21 decreases the shaft" 14 moves toward the bottom of slot 12. This construction maintains a constant distance between the point of contact of the rolls 21 and 39 and the bite of the aprons 31 and 36. Also, a constant distance is maintained between the/point of contact of the rolls 21 and 39 and the middle line top'roll 16. The location of the front line top roll 17 forwardrof the front line bottom roll 39 together with'the rotation of the rolls and the downward weighting causes the roll shaft '14 always to rest with pressure against the forward side of the slot 12 in bracket 10. Accordingly, the forward side of the slot 12 is cut an an' angle whereby the variations in the diameters of the roll cylinders is compensated for and a constant distance is maintained between the point of contact ofthe front line rolls and the bite of the aprons regardless of how the cylinders wear or are buffed. 7 V i p From the foregoing description it will be seen that the front line top roll 17, the middle line top roll 16, and the top apron nose bar 24 and the aprons 31 which pass over the middle line top'rolls and-the top apron nose bar form an assembly, all parts of which may be checked for accuracy and alignment prior to installation and then installed on the frame as a unit. To. remove the top roll unit from the frame, the weighting is merely lifted,

thus permitting the entire unit to be removed. Also,

thefront line top roll may beremoved independently In Figs. 7 and 8 I show a modified form of top roll unit comprising an alignment bracket 10a having a downwardly opening ,slot. 11a adjacent the rear end thereof for receiving the middle line top roll shaft 13a, having roll cylinders 18a mounted thereon. A transverse slot 23a is provided in the'bracket 10a for receiving a top apron nose bar 24a. The shaft 13a and the nose .bar 24a are secured rigidly to the bracket 10a by means of a clamp member 27a and a cap screw 26a.

In the construction shown in Figs. '7 and 8 the lower 7 apron nose bars are supported by the top apron nose bar and are removable. therefrom. Inner guidemembers 54 aremounted on the upper surface of the top apron'nose bar indicated at-52 and secured to. the undersurface .of the nose bar 52 are inner apron guides 53. for the-lower aprons 36a. .The lower apron nose bar 'is in the-form of sections 56 which are attached toouter apron guide members 57, asshown'in' Fig. '8. The outer ends of the top apron nose bar. 52 are reduced as..at.58 andthe reduced portions extend outwardly and thence forwardly to provide hooks 59v which engage openings 61 in the outer apron guide members 57, thus removably attaching the outer ends of theupper apron nose bar 52 to the lower apron nose bar sections 56. The inner guides 53 are provided with forwardly opening slots 62 therein for receiving the inner ends of the lower apron nose bar section 56, thus limiting rearward movement of the inner ends thereof. There is no forward movement of the lower apron nose bar sections 56 due to the. fact that the apron 36a passes around the same and the-lower middle line'roll 38a, as shown in Fig. 7. i

V The holder 49a for the individual topvroll clearers is formed separately from'the bracket 10a and is attached thereto by any'suitable means, such as rivets 55. A

the front line top rollcylinders, such as occur when the '3, 4 and6, whereby'as' the diameterortheisu' cylinders cylinders are buffed or worn, the upwardly opening slot 1 1 i 12 extends downwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figs.

downwardly opening slot ;12a is'provided adjacent the forward end of the bracket 10;: for receiving the shaft 14d of thefront line top'ro ll. 1

i From the foregoing it;will be seen that-I-have devised an improved top roll unit for fiber. attenuating apparatus.

By providing an alignment bracket which connects and 7 :aligns the front line top roll with the middle line top roll, the front line top, roll is aligned without'the necessity of nebs at the ends thereof. Also, the front line top roll 'maintains its alignment 'with the middlefline 'topfroll although variationsor iire'gularities occurin the diameters I of the roll cylinders;'i Bysupporting the top apron nose middleline top roll, there no close cpptact ofithe nqse bar,orits apron guides with the middle line Fi t m re maintaining s as h betweanthetop i ewa... of the removable spacer members atthe ends thereof, the spacer members ,can ,he remogedl apd installed with-. putthe removal of the top roll unit from the frame. In actual practice,- I -have found that my -improved *top roll unit is satisfactory in every respect and constant alignment of the rolls and the aprons is maintained at all times without adjustments.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What Iclaim is:

1. The combination with a top roll unit for fiber attenuating apparatus including middle and front line top rolls having shafts with spaced roll cylinders mounted thereon, the ends of the shaft of the middle line top roll projecting outwardly of the roll cylinders and means engaging the outwardly projecting ends of the middle line top roll and holding the middle line top roll in predetermined alignment, of a bracket secured rigidly to the middle line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and extending forwardly thereof, there being a transverse slot adjacent the forward end of said bracket receiving said front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and holding said front line top roll in parallel alignments with the middle line top roll, whereby said front line top roll is aligned entirely by said bracket and the bracket connection to the middle line top roll.

2. In a top roll unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls having shafts with spaced roll cylinders mounted thereon, a bracket secured rigidly to the middle line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and extending forwardly thereof, a top apron nose bar secured rigidly to said bracket forwardly of said middle line top roll, and aprons passing around the roll cylinders of the middle line top roll and said nose bar, there being a transverse slot adjacent the forward end of said bracket disposed to receive said front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and hold said front line top roll in parallel alignment with the middle line top roll. 7

3. In a top roll unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls having shafts with spaced roll cylinders mounted' thereon, an alignment bracket, there being a downwardly opening transverse slot adjacent the rear end of said bracket disposed to receive a part of the middle line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders, there being an upwardly opening transverse slot adjacent the forward end of said bracket disposed to receive a part of the front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders, there being a third transverse slot in said bracket forwardly of said downwardly opening slot, a top apron nose bar fitting within said third transverse slot, aprons passing around the roll cylinders of the middle line top roll and said nose bar, a clamp member spanning at least a portion of said nose bar and said part of the middle line top roll, and means securing said clamp member to said bracket.

4. A top roll unit as defined in claim 3 in which the nose bar is provided with a recess adjacent the center thereof for receiving an upstanding projection on the clamp member, whereby the nose bar is centered relative to the alignment bracket.

5. The combination with a top roll unit for fiber atten uating apparatus including middle and front line top rolls having shafts with spaced roll cylinders mounted thereon, the ends of the shaft of the middle line top roll projecting outwardly of the roll cylinders and means sass-e eg a iasth .nu w dl prcie in end of themiddl line toproll and he ing themiddle' line top rolljin Plen t niawal gnme in la nest d bra k -h in a .d wnwerdlv Opening trans ers 1 1 ad acen th ea .aas flrt rewir n theslaa .b sa d m ddl Tim 5191' roll intermediate its roll cylinders, means gperatively connecting the shaft of said middle line top 'rollto said bracket'iand glimiting fore rand-aft movement of said middle line toprroll relativeto ,said;bracket, there being an upwardly opening transverse slot .adjacent the forward end of said bracketreceivingthe' shaft of said'front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and holding said front line top roll in parallel alignment with the middle line top roll, whereby said front line top roll is aligned entirely by said bracket and the bracket connection to the middle line top roll.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the sides of the upwardly opening slot adjacent the forward end of the bracket extend downwardly and inwardly whereby the distance between the bites of the front line rolls and middle line rolls remains substantially constant when the diameters of the front line top rolls are varied.

7. In a top roll unit for dual apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls havingshafts with spaced roll cylinders mounted thereon, a bracket secured rigidly to a stationary part of the middle line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and extending forwardly thereof, a top apron nose bar secured rigidly to said bracket forwardly of said middle line top roll, top aprons passing around the roll cylinders of the middle line top roll-and said nose bar, there being a transverse slot adjacent the forward end of said bracket disposed to receive said front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders and hold said front line top roll in parallel alignment with the middle line top roll, and removable spacer members mounted adjacent each end of said top apron nose bar and disposed to support the same in parallel spaced relation to a subjacent nose bar.

8. In a top roll unit for dual apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls, a bracket secured rigidly to said middle line top roll and extending forwardly thereof, means adjacent the forward end of said bracket supporting the front line top roll in parallel alignment with the middle line top roll, a top apron nose bar secured rigidly to said bracket forwardly of the middle line top roll, and removable spacer members mounted adjacent the ends of said top apron nose bar disposed to support the top apron nose bar in parallel spaced relation to a subjacent nose bar.

9. A top roll unit as defined in claim 8 in which the spacer members are in the form of snap-on clips disposed to encircle a portion of the top apron nose bar.

10. A top roll unit as defined in claim 9 in which the ends of the top apron nose barare provided with depressions for receiving inwardly extending projections on the snap-on clips, and the snap-on clips have flanges along the lower portions thereof which extend downwardly and then outwardly.

11. In a top roll unit for dual apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls, a

, bracket secured rigidly to said middle line top roll and extending forwardly thereof, a transverse slot adjacent the forward end of said bracket supporting the front line top roll intermediate its roll cylinders, a top apron nose bar secured rigidly to said bracket a substantial distance forwardly of the middle line top roll, and means attaching lower apron nose bar sections to said top apron nose bar.

12. A top roll unit as defined in claim ll in which inner apron guides are mounted on the upper and lower surface of the top apron nose bar, and outer apron guides are attached to the lower apron nose bar sections, there being slots in the inner apron guides mounted on the lower surface of the top apron nose bar for receiving the inner ends of said lower apron nose bar sections, and there being slots in the outer apron guides for receiving the outer ends of said top apron nose bar. s f i v 13. A top rail unites jdefined in c1aim 112 in which the top apron nose bar is provided with hook portions at the ends thereof disposed 'to engage the slots in the outer 5 apron guides. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,697 Casablancas June 30, 1936 10 Pi1z: air. 23,1937 Sept. 14,1943 'Dolling e1 a1.q, .-Dee. 14,1954 Rulon Millerfet a1. s May 20,.1958

FOREIGN PATENTS F 'a nce Apr. 27, 1942 

